Skip to main content

Zortch

Zortch Game Cover
98%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, grinding
98% User Score Based on 1,246 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
Buy Nowfrom $4.99
Buy NowGet on Steam $4.99
Zortch Game Cover

About Zortch

Zortch is a single player shooter game with horror, comedy, violence and science fiction themes. It was developed by Mutantleg and was released on June 8, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Zortch is a single player FPS game in a sci-fi setting with horror and comedy elements Zortch Maxinum is a professional slacker who finds herself captured by aliens after falling for their fake holiday scheme - now she must escape their planet or become a light snack lucky for her there is a mysterious voice helping her along the way Features: Custom engine that runs well on low-spec machines …

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Zortch screenshot
Zortch screenshot
Zortch screenshot
Zortch screenshot
Zortch screenshot
Skip Games Like Zortch

Games Like Zortch

Looking for games like Zortch? Here are top shooter recommendations with a horror, comedy, violence and science fiction focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with HROT, CULTIC or AMID EVIL.

HROT Image
94%5.9kreviews

HROT

2021Arcade Shooter
PCWindows
Games like HROT
CULTIC Image
96%9.3kreviews

CULTIC

2022Shooter
Xbox Series X|SPCXbox+2
Games like CULTIC
AMID EVIL Image
92%10kreviews

AMID EVIL

2019Shooter
PCSteam DeckWindows
Games like AMID EVIL
INCISION Image
87%844reviews

INCISION

2025Shooter
PCWindows
Games like INCISION
Ion Fury Image
89%8.3kreviews

Ion Fury

2019Arcade Shooter
Nintendo SwitchLinuxPC+5
Games like Ion Fury
DUSK Image
94%19.3kreviews

DUSK

2018Shooter
Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|S+8
Games like DUSK
Turbo Overkill Image
95%7.6kreviews

Turbo Overkill

2023Shooter
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4+10
Games like Turbo Overkill
Killer Clowns (2016) ImageKiller Clowns (2016) ImageKiller Clowns (2016) Image
98%14.6kreviews

Killer Clowns (2016)

2023Shooter
XboxWindows
Games like Killer Clowns (2016)
Prodeus Image
87%7.6kreviews

Prodeus

2022Casual Shooter
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4+10
Games like Prodeus
Dread Templar Image
83%534reviews

Dread Templar

2023Arcade Shooter
PCWindows
Games like Dread Templar
More games like Zortch
Skip User Reviews

Reviews

98%Audience ScoreBased on 1,246 reviews
graphics43 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • Authentic late 90s/early 2000s FPS feel with a unique N64-style aesthetic and a well-crafted custom engine.
  • Very satisfying and varied gunplay with weapons that have distinct, useful secondary fire modes.
  • Diverse and intelligent enemy AI that jump and reposition, resulting in dynamic, tactical combat.
  • Expansive and creative level design with multiple paths, secrets, and interesting environmental interactions.
  • Fast, fluid, and responsive movement mechanics including sprinting, sliding, and air kicking for height boost.
  • Highly affordable price with high value for content—well worth the cost for both casual and veteran players.
  • Strong nostalgic and humorous tone blending serious sci-fi atmosphere with goofy and lighthearted elements.
  • Well-optimized and runs smoothly even on low-end hardware, including Windows XP and Steam Deck.
  • Developer engagement with the community and continued improvements including a sequel in development.
  • Some players find the level layouts confusing or labyrinthine at times, especially without an in-game map.
  • Health and ammo are very abundant, reducing challenge on normal difficulties unless playing hardest modes with respawning enemies.
  • Boss fights tend to be straightforward damage sponges and lack complexity or unique mechanics.
  • Sound design is generally underwhelming, with quiet or absent enemy noises and muted weapon effects.
  • No auto-save system and some minor technical issues like occasional stuttering, limited framerate uncapping, and rare crashes.
  • Some weapons like the shotgun and trip mines are considered weaker or less useful by players.
  • The soundtrack is sparse, ambient, or experimental and not as engaging for all players.
  • Occasional grammar and translation issues in text and story exposition.
  • The pacing and difficulty ramp can be uneven, with spikes or low difficulty balance depending on settings.

  • graphics

    128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    34% positive mentions, 64% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    The graphics of this game are widely praised for authentically capturing the late 90s to early 2000s FPS aesthetic, reminiscent of titles like Quake, Turok, Unreal, Half-Life, and N64-era shooters, with low-poly models, soft textures, and retro shader effects. Its custom engine delivers fluid performance and a distinctive, quirky art style that feels nostalgic yet polished, successfully evoking the era’s visuals without the limitations of old hardware. Overall, the graphics are considered a charming, well-executed tribute that enhances the game's atmosphere and complements its fast-paced gameplay.

    • “The graphics are amazing, they really make the game feel like some lost PC game from the late 90s, like a mix between Unreal Engine 1 and an N64 FPS (Perfect Dark and Turok rather than GoldenEye).”
    • “This game absolutely nails the aesthetic it's going for and has an incredibly authentic feel, like it really could have existed right alongside Half-Life and Quake 2.”
    • “Solo dev who coded their own C++ Pascal OpenGL engine game from scratch (no UE4 or Unity here, & OpenGL honestly underrated), and the game has a ton of cool little charm and personality, with old school shader metallic sheens on surfaces, vertex lighting and some dynamic lights still being impressive — visuals that would have blown people away back in 1997 and still carry their own look today.”
    • “The artstyle is totally coherent, but some of the maps are just monocolored messes.”
    • “I said the levels are ugly, but although any given asset in the game has retro charm, the overall artstyle (faithful as it is) seems to emulate the most generic, lifeless games of its era.”
    • “My issue with many of those types of games is they feel like they are using the pretense of having "oldschool" graphics and gameplay as an excuse to have lazy, bad visuals and gameplay that are not even remotely close to the games from 20 years ago, or more, they are supposedly copying.”

  • gameplay

    123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    50% positive mentions, 47% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions

    The gameplay of this retro-inspired FPS is widely praised for its fast, fluid, and smooth mechanics that evoke the feel of 90s classics like Quake, Unreal, and Doom while adding unique elements such as kick-based combat and diverse enemy behaviors. Players appreciate its solid weapon design, creative level layouts, and a balance of nostalgic and fresh features that keep combat engaging without unnecessary complexity. Though relatively short, it delivers a satisfying, tight, and fun experience that stands out among modern boomer shooters.

    • “It essentially really gives you the room to experiment and play around with your basic mechanics.”
    • “This game is full of heart, whose dev coded up an entire engine for the game, and to me it shines through in the unique gameplay and original experience in a genre with many entrants.”
    • “One thing that makes the combat ever so frenetic is yet another unique mechanic where shooting / kicking most humanoid enemies will consistently knock them down, but they can actually get up a lot of the time if you don't finish them off.”
    • “My issue with many of those types of games is they feel like they are using the pretense of having "oldschool" graphics and gameplay as an excuse to have lazy, bad visuals and gameplay that are not even remotely close to the games from 20 years ago, or more, they are supposedly copying.”
    • “If you want to play 12 levels of really solid fps gameplay and 8 levels of convoluted grindy tedium this is the game for you.”
    • “I cannot in good faith recommend such a backwards project, and I am definitely not looking forward to any further projects from such a clueless team who would rather waste time polishing gameplay rather than study modern trends.”

  • music

    103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    30% positive mentions, 61% neutral mentions, 9% negative mentions

    The music in the game is largely ambient, experimental, and atmospheric, effectively contributing to a dark, moody, and surreal tone that fits the game's environments. However, many find the soundtrack sparse, inconsistent, and sometimes grating or distracting, with a common desire for a more dynamic, adrenaline-pumping score better suited to the intense gameplay. While some praise its unique and fitting style, others recommend swapping it out for more traditional or upbeat soundtracks to enhance the experience.

    • “The techno/ambient music is super fitting & has some bangers.”
    • “I also quite enjoyed the experimental and atmospheric soundtrack, injecting a good amount of texture into the world and compensating for the shortcomings of the sound design, adding details in its composition that could easily be mistaken for the sound effects of the environments.”
    • “The music is super moody and lo-fi and really fits the vibe of the dead world and dark, cold, metallic environments.”
    • “Nothing surprising, no fun bosses, no unique level ideas, boring repetitive music.”
    • “The only two cons are the slightly too short singleplayer and the pretty bad soundscape - from meh music and inconsistent sound mixing to pretty much zero ambient sounds, sound is the only really bad part of the game.”
    • “The level design is almost completely forgettable squareish rooms and hallways, the music kinda stinks, the enemy AI is predictable, and the options menu FPS limiter defaults on, causing stuttering on my machine, but it don't care because the physical movement feels so fluid and alive.”

  • humor

    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's humor is widely praised for its zany, absurdist, and lighthearted tone that does not take itself too seriously, reminiscent of classic '90s shooters and quirky titles like Earthworm Jim and MDK. Players appreciate the unique, often visual or situational comedy found in enemy designs, weapons, level layouts, and ambient details, creating an entertaining and charming atmosphere that enhances the overall fun. While some find the humor subtle or occasionally feeble, the majority agree it adds significant personality and nostalgic charm without feeling forced or cringeworthy.

    • “The sensibility and humor is very zany, for example enemies that are rocket launchers on little metal chicken-legs, a level that ends upside down (including the text), chipmunk giggling when you gobble alien chocolate bars, and an ultra-low voice that barks 'secret' when you find one.”
    • “The humor is off the wall and never takes itself seriously, which is what we need in today's over bloated way too serious market.”
    • “The game also has an excellent sense of wacky absurdist humor, very similar to the works of Shiny Entertainment (Earthworm Jim, Messiah, and especially MDK).”

  • story

    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    25% positive mentions, 69% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The story in this game is minimal, straightforward, and often serves as a light, quirky backdrop rather than a deep narrative focus. It is appreciated for its quirky, humorous elements and environmental storytelling, but many note that it takes a backseat to fast-paced gameplay and well-designed levels. Overall, the story is simple, fun, and complements the retro shooter experience without being a major draw.

    • “I appreciate the story and the way it's told.”
    • “You can kind of put together the story as you go and the final cut scene helps put everything together.”
    • “Interesting visuals, smooth and satisfying gameplay, cool worldbuilding and story.”
    • “The actual brunt of the story only comes once you finish the game where you're presented with a few pages giving the backstory of who the antagonists really are and why they're fighting you in the first place.”
    • “The story is under-baked, under-delivered post-modernistic unjoke.”
    • “There's no proper intro or anything; the story is on the store page on the internet in a text form.”

  • atmosphere

    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    52% positive mentions, 41% neutral mentions, 7% negative mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its moody, foreboding, and surreal sci-fi tone, blending eerie ambient sounds with chaotic, experimental music reminiscent of classic shooters like Quake and Unreal. Despite minimalistic and sometimes sparse soundtrack choices, the atmospheric design—enhanced by moody lighting, creative level design, and unique visuals—immerses players in a zany, gonzo alien world that balances tension and humor effectively. Some users note that a more dynamic or adrenaline-driven OST might enhance intensity, but overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout and integral part of the game's charm.

    • “Despite this the game has a very foreboding atmosphere, mostly gained through its moody lighting and the ambient and chaotic OST, which is less musical for the most part and more a mass of strange noises.”
    • “I also quite enjoyed the experimental and atmospheric soundtrack, injecting a good amount of texture into the world and compensating for the shortcomings of the sound design, adding details in its composition that could easily be mistaken for the sound effects of the environments.”
    • “This is a game so dripping with atmosphere, that it can throw a beach ball at you while you're fighting in a sci-fi techbase full of freaks from another planet, and the absurdity of it all somehow fits like a glove.”
    • “Complete lack of music makes the atmosphere feel barren.”
    • “For example, when you get the keys for the doors or destroy the generators, it would be great if there was some music to make the atmosphere more intense and exciting.”
    • “I understand the intention was to create a foreboding, surreal, and alien atmosphere, but the game would have benefited more from an adrenaline-filled OST with sci-fi synths and pumping electro beats, similar to Alex Brandon's work on Unreal.”

  • optimization

    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    36% positive mentions, 28% neutral mentions, 36% negative mentions

    The game is praised for its well-optimized, custom-built engine that runs smoothly at a capped 60fps on a wide range of hardware, including older PCs. While occasional stuttering and rare crashes are reported, these issues are generally minor and often resolve quickly. Overall, the optimization is considered impressive, especially given the developer's solo effort, though some users wish for an uncapped frame rate by default.

    • “The developer made their own custom engine just for this game, and it is probably one of the most technically optimized game engines I've seen in the modern era.”
    • “It runs smoothly even on the family PC you've had for the past 3 years or so; the shooting is fun and satisfying, as well as the weapons you use. The graphics, though nothing ground-breaking, are full of charm and atmosphere.”
    • “Game runs smoothly at 60fps and is by default capped at that, though an 'uncapped' option is available in the settings.”
    • “The options menu FPS limiter defaults on, causing stuttering on my machine, even though the physical movement feels fluid and alive.”
    • “Aside from occasional stuttering (no pre-caching?) and a couple of crashes while loading a save, the game mostly seems competent.”
    • “My only complaint is the 60fps cap (which is excusable for a solo dev with their own engine), and some random performance issues that typically disappear as quickly as they appear.”

  • stability

    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    86% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 14% negative mentions

    The game is generally praised for its smooth performance, polished gameplay, and stable run even on lower-end hardware, capturing the feel of classic 90s FPS titles. However, some users report issues with bugs, indicating occasional instability despite the overall solid experience.

    • “For 5 bucks you're getting a fun sci-fi FPS with a nostalgic graphical style (think Quake graphics), a few nods to other FPS games of the 90s, and a level of bug-free polish that's foreign to most AAA companies these days.”
    • “It runs great on my craptop and has that intrinsic feeling of a real FPS from that era. It does not feel like it is using some kind of canned physics and movement system that always gives away a game made on something like Unity. The basic feeling of movement and momentum was very important to games like Quake and other shooters of that era, and this game captures that well.”
    • “The game looks good, runs great, plays with a really good flow, and each weapon feels rather unique. The pacing is also pretty good and I like all the options the game gives you to customize your experience.”
    • “Buggy mess.”

  • grinding

    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is frequently described as tedious and frustrating, often involving repetitive actions like spamming attacks or navigating confusing level layouts. While some early levels offer solid gameplay, extended play leads to repetitive and convoluted grindy sections that diminish enjoyment.

    • “On maxed difficulty, I needed to gib enemy corpses but often ended up shooting debris, weapons, etc., rather than the targeted corpse, which felt tedious and led to unnecessary respawns.”
    • “The game turns into a confusing and tedious process of trying to return to the starting point, with each turn leading to even more unreadable areas.”
    • “If you want to play 12 levels of solid FPS gameplay and 8 levels of convoluted, grindy tedium, this is the game for you.”

  • replayability

    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    50% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game offers high replayability with multiple difficulty settings, numerous secrets, and 15-20 stages, allowing players to enjoy 20-30 hours of gameplay. Its varied challenges and hidden content encourage repeated playthroughs.

    • “The length is about 3 to 4 hours long and is very replayable with all the secrets and difficulty options on top of just being a fun time.”
    • “There are 15 stages (20 if you count the 5 bosses) and just enough replayability to get 20-30 hours out of it if you really want to.”
    • “There's a bunch of secrets to find in every level and 5-6 difficulties (all available from the start) to increase replayability.”

  • monetization

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The monetization in the game feels thoughtfully integrated and not exploitative, complementing its humorous and quirky sci-fi theme without detracting from the overall fun experience.

  • character development

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The character development features creative, low-poly designs that evoke a nostalgic, early 2000s cartoony style reminiscent of games like Turok and Jet Gemini Force. This refined aesthetic effectively immerses players in a retro-inspired experience.

  • emotional

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The emotional impact is weakened by an overwhelming and rushed exposition at the end, which feels forced and detracts from the overall experience.

Skip Game Offers

Buy Zortch

Play Times

5h Median play time
10h Average play time
5-18h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Zortch is a shooter game with horror, comedy, violence and science fiction themes. Common tags for Zortch include first-person, indie, boomer shooter, trading, female protagonist and others.

Zortch is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 10 hours playing Zortch.

Zortch was released on June 8, 2023.

Zortch was developed by Mutantleg.

Zortch has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Zortch for its graphics but disliked it for its optimization.

Zortch is a single player game.

Similar games include HROT, CULTIC, AMID EVIL, INCISION, Ion Fury and others.